Targets in Kent and London raided.
Night: London, Bristol, Wales, Liverpool, Birmingham and Birkenhead all bombed.
Weather: Early fog clearing to blue skies. Cloud later.
Enemy Action by Day
Sunday, 13 October 1940, opened under thick fog across the southeast and Channel areas, limiting early operations to scattered reconnaissance flights. These probing sorties monitored convoy activity and coastal defences but brought little significant engagement. By midday, however, conditions improved markedly. Clear skies developed over Kent and London, allowing the Luftwaffe to resume its now-familiar pattern of fast, high-altitude fighter-bomber raids supported by scattered bomber formations. The attacks were limited in scope compared to previous days but still delivered disruption across the capital and southeastern England.
Morning Reconnaissance Activity
At 06:43 hours, the first Luftwaffe aircraft reconnoitred the area from Dungeness to north of Rye and Dover, while another aircraft loitered over the Channel near the Straits. A separate reconnaissance mission, tracked at 07:13 hours, moved westward along the south coast between the Isle of Wight and Dungeness but evaded interception. Between 09:00 and 11:30 hours, several single aircraft flew deep offshore reconnaissance tracks over the North Sea—fifty miles east of Whitby and Cromer—while other tracks were plotted inland from Poole and Swanage to Portland and Somerset. A convoy off the southeast coast was attacked at approximately 11:39 hours. Further aircraft were active over the Hornchurch sector, Harwich, and the Firth of Forth by mid-afternoon. These missions marked the return of intensive German reconnaissance efforts prior to renewed main force attacks.
First Main Raid: Bf 109s Strike Central London
The first major raid of the day was plotted at 12:48 hours when a force of over 25 aircraft crossed the coast between Hythe and Lympne. The raid remained localised to Kent and withdrew within twelve minutes. A more determined assault followed at 13:35 hours, when two waves of over thirty Bf 109s—many from III./JG 3—entered via the Medway corridor. The lead wave reached central London, striking Woolwich and the rail junctions at Dalston and Hackney. Destruction was reported along railway lines and nearby industrial areas. The second wave turned back near Dartford.
Spitfires of Nos. 46, 66, and 92 Squadrons intercepted the formation at altitude. Gefreiter Hubert Rungen of 7./JG 3, flying a Bf 109E-4 coded “White 7,” broke away from formation to attack two Spitfires but was surprised by a third RAF aircraft climbing from beneath. His radiator was punctured and, unable to maintain altitude, Rungen force-landed at Cukold Coombe near Ashford. He was taken prisoner, slightly wounded but alive.
Pilot Officer J.K. Ross of No. 17 Squadron was less fortunate. At 13:50 hours, while patrolling the Chatham area, his Hurricane I (P3536) was struck by British anti-aircraft fire. Ross baled out and survived with injuries. The incident illustrated the ever-present danger of friendly fire amid the confusion of high-speed aerial combat.
Afternoon Assaults: Central London and Sector Stations
Shortly after 14:00 hours, another powerful raid was detected crossing the coast near Dungeness. Comprising multiple waves of over 30 aircraft each—including Bf 109s and several Ju 88s—the first two waves repeated the tactics of the earlier 13:35 assault, with only the leading elements reaching central London. The third wave focused on the Biggin Hill–Kenley area, placing pressure on the heavily strained 11 Group Sector Stations.
Fourteen RAF squadrons were scrambled in response, including Hurricanes of Nos. 73, 229, 249, 253, 257, 303 (Polish), 605, and 615 Squadrons, and Spitfires from Nos. 41, 46, 66, 72, 92, and 602 Squadrons. Combat reports detail intense engagements over Kent and southern London. JG 54 and JG 27 bore the brunt of the fighting, with Oblt. Hans Philipp of 4./JG 54 claiming three Hurricanes. Ofw. Karl Hier and Gefr. Leo Masterer, also of 4./JG 54, each claimed two. Despite these losses, RAF fighter resistance remained firm, and the majority of the attacking aircraft returned to France with only light bomb loads delivered.
An unusual moment of confusion was later recounted by Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob of 7./JG 54, who noted that British ground control was overheard ordering fighters to attack supposed “German bomber formations,” only for RAF pilots to reply that they could see no bombers—only Bf 109s. The realisation that Messerschmitt units were conducting the bombing themselves sparked further defensive activity.
Final Raid of the Afternoon: Deep Penetration to London
At 15:35 hours, another raid of over 50 aircraft entered between Dover and Dungeness. The formation flew over Maidstone, split over the Thames, and advanced on London. One section veered toward Hornchurch, while another turned west via Dartford, reaching central London again. Enemy aircraft were recorded withdrawing by 15:54 hours, and remnants of the raid remained active over the Maidstone–Tunbridge Wells–Ashford triangle until 16:10 hours before exiting the coast. These final actions marked the end of sustained enemy air activity by day.
Friendly Fire Tragedy
A tragic incident unfolded during early evening patrols by No. 29 Squadron on 13 October 1940. At 17:35 hours, two Blenheims—K7135, crewed by Flying Officer J.D. Humphreys, Sergeant E.H. Bee, and Aircraftman 1st Class J.F. Fizell, and L6637, crewed by Sergeant Stevens, Sergeant O.K. Sly, and Aircraftman 2nd Class A. Jackson—took off from Tern Hill to patrol the Point of Ayr, southwest of Liverpool. At approximately 18:20 hours, the formation was attacked in error by Hurricanes of No. 312 (Czech) Squadron, flown by Squadron Leader J. Ambrus, Flight Lieutenant H.A.G. Comerford, and Sergeant J. Stehlik. Despite firing the colours of the day, L6637 was shot down into the sea with the loss of all three crew members. K7135 sustained no serious damage and returned safely to base.
Enemy Action by Night
Luftwaffe night operations began at approximately 18:30 hours, with bomber formations departing from the Cherbourg, Dieppe, and Seine Bay regions, as well as from the Dutch islands. The intensity of activity increased rapidly, reaching its peak between 19:00 and 21:00 hours. During this period, around sixty separate raids were plotted, the majority entering via the south coast between Selsey Bill and Dover. Others crossed the Thames Estuary or advanced over East Anglia from the Dutch coast, pushing inland toward London from the northeast. Several raids were also tracked northward over the Mersey, while five distinct formations originating from the Swanage–Portland sector made for the Liverpool area. Further raids were plotted along the Yorkshire coastline from the Humber to Newcastle, passing inland around Scarborough.
Between 21:00 and 23:00 hours, the bombardment of London intensified. Aircraft approached the capital through multiple channels, including Beachy Head, Dungeness, and the Thames Estuary. Some formations turned away after conducting suspected minelaying operations off Harwich and the Wash, while others continued inland toward the Midlands and northwest England. Several raids, likely originating from the Channel Islands, were tracked into the Liverpool region. Reports also confirmed minelaying near Flamborough Head and off Harwich during this time. Although the scale of activity remained high, the pace of fresh incursions began to slow as the 23:00 hour approached.
From 23:00 hours through to 01:00 hours on 14 October, the number of plotted raids diminished significantly, though London remained the principal target. Some aircraft continued to approach via the Thames Estuary, while others moved deeper into England toward Liverpool and the Welsh borders. A handful of isolated tracks were detected near the Debden and Duxford areas, but the scale and intensity of attacks showed a marked reduction compared to earlier in the evening.
Raids continued intermittently throughout the early morning hours. Between 01:00 and 06:00 hours, small formations crossed the coast between Selsey Bill and Dungeness at regular fifteen-minute intervals, nearly all heading toward the capital. Liverpool remained under pressure from occasional strikes, while additional minelaying activity was suspected off the northwest coast between Blackpool and the Mersey. A final raid passed over Bristol, and another was tracked crossing the Scottish coast at Dundee at approximately 05:30 hours. By 06:00, all enemy activity had ceased.
Damage Assessments and Civilian Impact
The Home Security Executive reported enemy bombing activity on a smaller scale during daylight, limited mostly to Kent and southern London. Scattered incidents resulted in railway damage and a fire at a gasworks that took over an hour to extinguish.
After dark, damage increased dramatically. A heavy explosive bomb hit a basement shelter in Stoke Newington at 21:30 hours, collapsing the building and burying around 250 people. Few were believed to have survived. A factory in Wandsworth was destroyed, but workers evacuated in time, with only five injuries. Stanmore Underground Station was damaged, uncomfortably close to RAF Fighter Command headquarters at Bentley Priory.
Wembley Park station was hit by two HE bombs at 19:47 hours, severing telephone and signal lines. At 21:15, a bomb collapsed two houses above the westbound platform tunnel of Bounds Green station, killing multiple civilians sheltering below. Additional bombs struck the Paddington Underground station at 23:33, and heavy damage was reported at Hackney and Dalston Western Junction, halting LNER traffic. The LMS bridge at Waterson Street, Shoreditch, was destroyed earlier in the day at 13:55 hours.
Outside the capital, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Hull, and Manchester suffered extensive damage. In Middlesbrough, a 250 kg bomb struck a communal shelter and adjoining buildings, killing 21 people. Dorman Long’s Britannia Works sustained light damage. In Hull, six HE bombs caused structural losses to the gasworks, a railway embankment, and the Reckitt and Colman factory. Damage there was expected to affect production. RAF Station Swinderby was struck at 20:14 hours by five HE bombs and one incendiary; one aircraft was damaged.
German Losses:
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 6
British Losses:
Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 4
Blenheim L6637, No. 29 Squadron
Shot down in error by Hurricanes of No. 312 Czech Squadron over the Point of Ayr, SW of Liverpool.
Sgt. R.E. Stevens killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/StevensRE.htm
Sgt. O.K. Sly killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Sly.htm
AC2 A. Jackson killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/JacksonA.htm
Photo Descriptions
- A Messerschmitt Bf 109E goes on display at London’s Guildhall to boost donations to the Spitfire Fund. Here it is being manoeuvred into position by a civilian crew using a heavy crane. Pilot Herbert Rungen had made a forced landing at Hastingleigh, near Ashford in Kent, on 13 October 1940 after his aircraft was severely damaged in combat with Spitfires.
- Squadron Leader Douglas Bader (centre) and fellow pilots of No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF, Flight Lieutenant Eric Ball and Pilot Officer Willie McKnight, admire the nose art on Bader’s Hawker Hurricane at Duxford, October 1940. © IWM (CH 1412)